Method and apparatus for condensing vapors



May 14, 1929. w. HILDEBRANDT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING VAIORS Original Filed March 25. 1921 lll ill

Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,712,825 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HILDEBRANDT, 0F WASHINQ-TON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO GASOLINE CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDEN SING VAPORS.

Appl'ication filed March 23, 19:31, Serial No. 454,936. Renewed October 6, 1928. r

The present invention relates to the condensation of hydrocarbon vapors and more particularly to a method and apparatus for condensing vapors produced in cracking processes.

The vapors produced in the operat on pf cracking processes ordinarily comprise, in addition to the condensable products desired, a considerable amount of gas and incondensable vapors. If a condenser havlng a continuous coil of pipe, similar to those ordinarily used in connection with the common type of fire-stills is employed, the condensates which are formed in large quantities 1n the condenser tend to collect in bodies or pools of liquid which are driven by the rapidly moving gaseous products thru the succeeding portion of the coil and thru the run-down pipes in the form of slugs which are projected into the run-down or collecting tanks at a high velocity. The condensates are thoroughly agitated in their travel thru the condenser and pipe and churn-up the contents of the tanks as they are projected thereinto, thereby throwing a spray oil condensates into the gases or atmosphere above the tanlr, and in this manner, causing an increased loss thru volatilization. When steam is present in the products ol the cracking reaction, as is the case in certain processes, a further loss is involved thru the agitation and mining of the condensate with the condensed steam and the consequent tormat-ion oi? a permanent emulsion.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method ol" condensing vapors from a mixture oil vapors and moondensable gases.

Another object ol the invention is to provide an improved condenser suitable tor use in condensing the products resulting from the cracking of hydrocarbon oils.

ll. turther object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for condensing and separating oils from a mixture of oil, vapors, steam and incondensable gases.

Vl ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the process and apparatus described in the following specification and defined in the claims.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which;

Fig. l, is a view in elevation partly in section ot a condenser and separating apparatus embodying the preferred form of the condenser taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3, is a. plan illustrated in Fig. 1. y

In the present invention, the oil vapors and gases pass, in the initial part of the con- (lensing operation, in a continuous stream. thru a continuous, cooled condensing pipe until a considerable quantity of liquid condensate has been formed. The condensates and the partially cooled vapors and gases are thereupon separated into a number of separate streams which flow in parallel thru a number of pipes forming the remaining portion of the condenser. When the condensation of the vapors in these pipes has been completed, the several streams are reunited in a header or chamber in which the liquid condensates collect in a body below the incondensable gases and vapors. The condensed liquid products are continuously withdrawn from the lower part of the cooling header or chamber to a separating tanlr in which any water contained in the condensate settles to the bottom while the oil is removed from the top of the tank. The residual unc'ondensed gases are removed from the upper portion ot the collecting header to a gas storage or consuming apparatus.

lteterring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the vapors and gases trom the cracking or treating apparatus pass to the condenser thru a vapor pipe 10 and enter the upper portion of a pipe or coil 12 submerged in a body of cooling water 13 contained in a condenser boa: 14h The pipe 12, which is similar to the condenser pipes commonly used in connection with lire-stills, is shown in the accompanying drawings in the form of two tiers of fiat coils connected in series by means of a connecting pipe 16, in such a manner that the oil vapors pass in a single, rapidly flowing stream thru the em tire pipe. Tn passing thru the pipe, the oil vapors are cooled and a considerable portion of them condensed.

The condensates and uncondonsed vapors are withdrawn from the lower end of the coil 12 thru a connecting pipe 18 to a header 20 in which the speed of travel of the vapors and condensates is reduced to permit the condensate to separate from the uncondensed view of the apparatus llll ' 32 in the lower vapors and gases and collect as a body 21 in the lower part of the header. From the header 20, the vapors and condensates are distributed to a number of separate condensing pipes 22 thru the up er portion of which the vapors pass while t 1e condensates flow as so arate streams 23 in the lower portions. e condensing pipes 22 are slightly inclined in a uniform downward direction to a collectin header 24 to cause the liquids to flow rapi ly and continuously thru the lower portion of the ipes and to prevent the pocketing of the con ensates and the formation of bodies of liquid and the consequent propulsion of these liquids thru the pipes at a high rate of speed. The condensates and vapors collecting in the header 24 fall thru a connecting pipe or ni ple 26 to a lower distributing header 28 rom'which the vapors and liquids are redistributed to a second set of pi es 30 arranged similarly to the pipes 22 an preferably inclined slightly downwardly from the header 28. As the vapors and liquids flow thru the pipes 30, the condensation of the eondensable portion of the remaining vapors is completed. From the pipes 30 the resulting condensate and vapors enter a lower collecting header art of which the condensates collect in a. poo or body 33 above which the gases pass to a number of upright outlet pipes 34. It will be understood that in some cases but one set of distributing and collecting headers and connecting pipes may be necessary and that the form of the coil and the'form and arrangement of the distributing header connecting pipe and collecting header may be varied to suit difierent conditions. The, condensate collecting in the lower part of the header 32 is withdrawn thru draw-oil? pipe 36 to a separating tank 38 in which the water formed by the condensation of steam contained in the vapors from the cracking operation is separated from the oil'condensate.

The pd 36 extends into the tank 38 for a short ista-nce'and has an upturned foraminous portion 40 which permits the water and oil to gradually escape from the pipe in small, slowly moving streams, avoiding eddy-currents and insurin a quicker and more uniform separation o the water from the oil. The oil collecting above the water in the upper part of the separating tank flows upwardly thru an outlet pipe 42 and thru a look-box 44 to a run-down ipe 46 leading to an oil run-down or co lecting tank. The water settles to the lower partof the tank 38 and is removed thru a: pipe 48, which extends upwardly to a slight distance below the level of pipe 42. Since the pi e 48 is filled with water and overflows at a ower level than the pipe 42, water will escape thru the pipe 48 rather than thru the pipe 42 even though the tank should become filled with water-,and the passage of water into pipe 46 is therefore automatically prevented. The water in pipe 48 will, however,

oil and water is accordingl lnsured rcgardless of the proportions o the two liquids produced under different operating conditions.

The gases withdrawn from the collecting and separating header 32 thru the separatin pipes 34 are collected in a header 50 locate above the condenser box 14. From the header 50, the gases are withdrawn thru a ipe 52 and gas meter 54 to a pipe 56 which eads to a gas storage or consumption system. In the invention above set forth, the gases and vapors pass thru the initial portion of the condenser at a comparativel high rate of speed and thereby obtain the liigh degree of heat conductivity involved in the ra id passage of gases while in the latter portion of the condenser, in which considerable amounts of liquid are resent, the speed of travel is reduced ans the ocketing of liquids and gases is avoided. e invention provides an efiicient method and apparatus by which the gases and liquids roduccd in the condensation of a mixture 0 various vapors and ases may rapidly separated and avoids t e losses involved in the o eration of the condensers heretofore use It will be a parent that various changes may be made in the form of the apparatus without changing the essential features of the invention.

.Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A condensing apparatus which comrises a continuous coil, a distributing eader connected to said coil, a collecting header at a lower level than said distributing header, pipes connecting said headers, means for cooling said pipes and coil, a gas header above said collecting header, pipes connecting said gas header to the up r part of said collecting header,'a liquid raw-off ipe from said collecting header, a separating tank, an oil draw-ofi' pipe from the upper part of said tank, and a water draw- 0 pipe extending from the lower part of said separating tank to a level slightly below the level of said oil draw-01f ipe.

2. A condensing apparatus wliich comprises a continuous coil, a distributing header connected to said coil, a collecting header at a lower level than said distributing header, pipes connecting said headers, means for cooling said coil and said pi a gas collecting header above said collecting lid tlll

tltl

header, pipes connecting said gas collecting header to the upper part of said lower header, a separating tank, a liquid draw-ofi pipe from said lower header having a portion extending into said tank, said portion said stream of vapors and condensates into a number of independent streams, cooling said streams and condensmg the remaining vapors from sald streams, separating said condensates from said residual gases and.

vapors in said separate streams, collecting the residual gases and condensates and separately withdrawing said gases and said condensates. I

i. A method of condensing vapors from a mixture of gases and vapors which comprises passing said vapors and gases in a stream at a'rapid rate cooling said stream, separating said stream into separate streams, passing said separated streams at a slower rate of speed and cooling said separate streams, collecting the condensates from said separate streams into a body, withdrawing the residual gases from said body of li uid' and separating the'water from the oi in said liquid.

5. A condenser for condensing a mixture olv gases and vapors which'comprises a con denser box, a continuous. pipe in the up er part of said condenser box, a distributing header into which said pipe leads, a collecting header at a lower level than said distributing header, pipes connecting said headers, means for withdrawing gases from the upper part of said collecting header, means for withdrawing liquids from said collecting headerand means for separating the oil and water withdrawn from said header.

6. A condensing apparatus which. comprises a continuous coil, a header connected to said coil, pipesconnected to said header and extending in a slightly downward di-- rection, and coolingmeans for said pipe. a I

7. A condensing apparatus -which comprises a continuous coil, a distributing header connected to said coil, 8. collecting header at a lower level than said distributsaidcoil and ing header, pipes connecting said headers and means for cooling said pipes and coil.

, pipes bein slightl towards sai' d collectihg header.

8. A condensing apparatus which comprises a continuous coil, a distributing header connected to said coil, a collecting header at a lower level than said distributing header, pipes connecting said headers, means 'for cooling said pipes and coil, a gas receiving header above said collecting header and pipes connecting said gas receiving header to the upper part of said collecting header. 9. A condensing apparatus which comprises a continuous coil, a distributing header connected to' said coil, a collecting header, pipes connecting said headers, said.

ipes being inclined downwardly from said distributing header to said collecting header and means for cooling s'aid pipes and coil.

10. A condensing apparatus which comprises a condenser box, a continuous coil in the upper part of said condenser box, a dis- Ill tributing header connected to said coil, 9.

collecting header, pipes connecting said distributing header to said collecting header, said pipes being inclined slight y downwardly from said distributing header to said collecting header.

11'. A condenser which comprises a condenser box, a continuous coil in the upper part of said condenser box, a. distributmg header positioned below and connected to the lower end of said coil, :2. collecting header at a lower level than said distributingheader and pipes connecting said headers, said inclined downwardly 12. A condenser which comprises a condenser box, a continuous coil 1n the up 1' part of said condenser box, a distributing header connected to said coil, 9. collecting header at a lower level than said distributing header and pipes connecting said headers, said pipes having auniform,.gradual slope towards said lower header.

13, A condenser which comprises a condenser box, a continuous coil in the upper part of said condenser box, a distribu ing header connected to said coil, a collecting header, pipes connecting said distributing header to said collecting header, 2. second distributing header positioned below said collecting header-and connected to said collecting header, a lower collecting header, pipes connecting said lower distributing header to said lower collecting header, means for withdrawing liquid from the lower portion of said lower collecting header, and means for withdrawing gas from the upper portion of said lower collecting header. 4

In testimonywhereof, .I afiix my signa- 

